Spies and thrills on tap at Packard Campus this month

'Frankenstein' and 'Dracula' will be featured this month at the Library of Congress' Packard Campus theater in Culpeper.

The free screenings at the Library of Congress Packard Campus theater in October will feature a host of scary horror films and the first offerings in a three-month series of spy films – "007@50" -- celebrating the 50th anniversary of the James Bond movie franchise.

Thursday, Oct. 11 (7:30 p.m.)"The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" (Paramount, 1965)
Richard Burton stars in this adaptation of John le Carré's novel as a British agent who refuses to come in from the Cold War during the 1960s, choosing to infiltrate the enemy in a mission that might be his last. Martin Ritt directed the spy thriller, which also features Claire Bloom and Oskar Werner.

Friday, Oct. 12 (7:30 p.m.)"Too Many Girls" (RKO, 1940)
In this musical comedy directed by George Abbott, Lucille Ball stars as a reckless heiress who is escorted to a Wild West school by four college football stars who were hired to be her chaperones. Lucy's future husband, Desi Arnaz, is featured in the cast that includes Richard Carlson, Ann Miller and Eddie Bracken.

Saturday, Oct. 13 (7:30 p.m.)"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (United Artists, 1969)
Australian actor George Lazenby made his only appearance as 007 in this outing in which James Bond woos the daughter of Blofeld, the head of a European crime syndicate, and goes undercover to learn the true reason for the mobster's research in the Swiss Alps. Diana Rigg and Telly Savalas also star in this spy thriller, directed by Peter R. Hunt.

Thursday, Oct. 18 (7:30 p.m.)
Classic Halloween Double Feature"Frankenstein" (Universal, 1931)
James Whale directed this adaptation of Mary Shelley's famous horror novel about a crazed scientist who creates a living being from body parts and inadvertently gives it a criminal brain. Colin Clive stars as Dr. Frankenstein and Boris Karloff as the monster. The movie was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1991.

"Dracula" (Universal, 1931)
Bela Lugosi recreated his Broadway role as the Transylvanian vampire, Count Dracula, in this version of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic novel. Directed by Tod Browning, the atmospheric horror film features Dwight Frye and Edward Van Sloan in the cast. It was selected for the National Film Registry in 2000.

Friday, Oct. 19 (7:30 p.m.)"Kwaidan" ("Ghost Story") (Toho, 1964)
Based on stories from Lafcadio Hearn's collections of Japanese folk tales, this horror-fantasy, directed by Masaki Kobayashi, consists of four separate stories: "The Black Hair," "The Woman of the Snow," "Hoichi the Earless" and "In a Cup of Tea." Produced in Japanese with English subtitles, "Kwaidan" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Saturday, Oct. 20 (7:30 p.m.)"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (New Line Cinema, 1984, R-rated*)
In the first of director Wes Craven's slasher franchise, several teenagers are stalked and killed in their dreams by the hideously deformed Freddy Krueger. John Saxon, Johnny Depp, Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund are among the cast of the R-rated horror film.
*No one under 17 will be admitted without a parent or guardian.

Thursday, Oct. 25 (7:30 p.m.)"The Phantom of the Opera" (Universal, 1925)
In this silent film adaptation of the Gaston Leroux novel, a vengeful composer living in the catacombs under the Paris Opera House kidnaps a young soprano to become his singing protegee. Lon Chaney stars as the phantom in this horror classic. Directed by Rupert Julian, the film was selected to the National Film Registry in 1998. Ben Model will provide musical accompaniment.

Friday, Oct. 26 (7:30 p.m.)"The Hunger" (MGM, 1983, R-rated*)
Susan Sarandon stars as a specialist in aging research who becomes entangled with a centuries-old vampire couple. Directed by Tony Scott, this R-rated horror film also stars Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie.
*No one under 17 will be admitted without a parent or guardian.

Saturday, Oct. 27 (2:00 p.m.)"The Canterville Ghost" (MGM, 1944)
Loosely based on the Oscar Wilde short story, this fantasy-comedy stars Charles Laughton as a 17th-century ghost who died a coward, but can now break his curse if his descendant -- World War II soldier -- will perform a heroic deed. Directed by Jules Dassin, the film also features Robert Young and Margaret O'Brien in the cast.

In addition, movie classics on the National Film Registry will be highlighted throughout the month at the state-of-the-art theater in Culpeper, Va. All Packard Campus programs are free and open to the public, but children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

For reservation, information, call (540) 827-1079 ext. 79994 or (202) 707-9994 during business hours beginning one week before any given screening.